Part 12/16:
China's assertiveness extends beyond the South China Sea to other regional flashpoints. The dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands with Japan remains tense, with Chinese vessels regularly entering waters Japan considers their own. Japan responded by increasing defense spending—aiming for a nearly 16.5% rise in its defense budget for 2024—and deepening security ties with the Philippines through bilateral agreements and joint military drills.
The broader regional context involves China's efforts to assert maritime dominance, countered by Japan, the U.S., Australia, India, and regional allies. India’s recent arms exports, such as BrahMos missiles to the Philippines, aim to diversify the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific, complicating China's regional ambitions.